More film-makers needed for Pacific

Larry Thomas during an interview on the upcoming Oceania
International Film Festival. Picture: ELIKI NUKUTABU

THE Pacific simply does not have enough film-makers, says director of the Islands in the World Oceania International Film Festival Larry Thomas.

Mr Thomas said while the film festival last year proved to be very successful, they would have loved to display more features, documentaries and short films from around the Pacific islands, but there were not enough film-makers.

"So essentially, that's what one of the biggest points of having this film festival — so that it can stir interest in local aspiring film-makers and those around the Pacific who are interested in this field of work, so they have the chance to meet film-makers and learn more about the industry and the processes involved," he said in an interview yesterday.

"These are films that normally would never make the big screens and the more commercial markets and so this is the opportunity to meet and speak to the people in person who make the films, and that's what this film festival is all about."

The festival begins on Friday April 11 and will conclude next Thursday on April 17.